diff --git a/lib/route/link/api.c b/lib/route/link/api.c
index 2a8dd1d..9e14e4b 100644
--- a/lib/route/link/api.c
+++ b/lib/route/link/api.c
@@ -121,7 +121,8 @@ struct rtnl_link_af_ops *rtnl_link_af_ops_lookup(const unsigned int family)
  */
 void rtnl_link_af_ops_put(struct rtnl_link_af_ops *ops)
 {
-	ops->ao_refcnt--;
+	if (ops)
+		ops->ao_refcnt--;
 }
 
 /**